Advanced materials made from greenhouse gasses (Credit: natureworksllc.com)
NatureWorks is an advanced biomaterials company based in Minnesota using plants and abundant feedstock to turn greenhouse gasses into PLA biopolymers with performance and economics that compete with oil-based intermediates, plastics, and fibers. Inspired by nature, NatureWorks developed a photosynthesis-like process, using plants like corn, cassava, sugar cane or beets to capture and sequester CO2 transforming it into long-chain sugar molecules, which then will be fermented into lactic acid, the building block of a whole range of advanced materials, they call "Ingeo". According to their website, "manufacturing Ingeo produces approximately 80% less greenhouse gasses and uses approximately 52% less non-renewable energy (NREU) than traditional polymers like polystyrene."
How Ingeo is Made
Also, at their Ingeo Applications Development Facility NatureWorks partners with manufacturers and brand owners to accelerate the product development cycle bringing innovative products made with Ingeo biopolymer to market faster by simulating on actual equipment what the customer is looking for.
NatureWorks' Ingeo Applications Development Facility
